NANA SAHIB, a Hindu, one of the leaders of the sepoy revolt of 1857. He is said to be the son of a Brahman from the Deccan, and his real name was Dhundu Punt. He was b. about 1820, and was adopted as a son in 1827 by Bajee Rao, the childless ex-peishwa of Poona, thereby, according to Hindu law and custom, most of the rights of a legitimate son. He was educated as a Hindu nobleman—taught Englisn, and brought much in contact with the European officers, in whose amusements he, seemed fond of participating. A decision was, however, come to by the government of Calcutta, that they should not recognize rights to pensions or indemnities acquired by adoption; and in consequence, Nana Sahib was refused the continuance of a pension of eight Lacs of rupees, paid to his adopted father under a treaty made in 1818. This is believed to have rankled in his mind, along with slights he received from the supercil ious English youth with whom he came in contact. He was allowed to retain some of the state of a native prince—a retinue of 200 soldiers, with 3 field-pieces, and a fortified residence at Bithoor. 10 m. w. of Cawnpore. When the mutiny broke out in May, 1857, to assist the English, but instead he treacherously placed himself at the head of the mutineers. The European troops were induced, on June 25, to capitulate to Nana Sahib, who promised they should be sent down the Ganges in safety. They got
on boats provided for them, but had no sooner done so than two guns were unmasked, and a murderous fire was opened upon them. The sepoys were ordered to shoot the men, but to spare the women and children, who, when their husbands and parents had been shot, were removed to a house in Cawnpore. On July 15, sir H. Havelock, who had advanced to their assistance from Allahabad, defeated the sepoys in two engage ments, one within 8 m. of Cawnpore; and Nana Sahib next day directed that the women and children should be put to death, an order carried Out with unparalleled atrocity. A long series of engagements against Nana Sahib followed, in which he was always the loser. and he was ultimately driven beyond the English frontier into Nepaul. In 1860 his death was announced, but. two years later, new movements were discovered, which were attributed to him, and it is not certainly known whether he is dead or alive. Sev eral persons have been arrested on suspicion of being Nana Sahib, but in all cases a mis take has been made. A column has been erected at Cawnpore in memory of those who perished in the massacre.